Marking machine



May 9, 1939. w. s. PETTY 2,157,497

MARKING MACHINE Filed April 20, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet l v INVENTOR.

BY MLL/AM 61 Parry.

MIX

ATTORNEY.

y 9, 1939- w. s. PETTY 2,157,497

MARKING MACHINE Filed April 20, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY g2 Wfiomvw May9, 1939.. w. s. 'PETTY 2,157,497

MARKING MACHINE Filed April 20, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 g .INVENTOR.MAL/4M 5. P577? May 9, 1939.

MARKING MACHINE w. s. PETTY 2,157,497

' Fil ed April 20, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 f: if 17.

j 1;. J]. I. INVENTOR. \A/ILL/AM 5. P57

Patented May 9, 1939 UNITED? STATES PATENT OFFICE thirds to RussellYoung both of Denver, 0010,

Application April 20,

7 Claims.

This inventionrelates to a laundry marking machine and is moreparticularly designed as an improvement over the'machine illustrated anddescribed in applicants copending application Serial 124,052 filedFebml, 1937.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a laundry markingmachine which can be quickly and easily set up to produce and impressany desired series of characters or letters; which-will have a minimumofworking parts; which will eliminate all internal drive gears with theirexcessive weight and cost; and which will be light in weight and easilyportable.

Other objects and advantages reside in the de- G 'tail construction ofthe invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, andefiiciency.

These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the in- ;o-vention'reference ishad to the accompanying drawings which forms a part hereof. Likenumerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawings and throughoutthe description;

In the drawings:

Fig; l is a front view of the improved marking machine.

Fig. 2 is a left side elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a detail cross'section through the index segment, taken on theline 33, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail horizontal section through the type wheels, taken onthe line 4-4, Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is a cross section through the type wheel,

taken on the line 5-5, Fig. 4. 1

Fig. 6 Ba similar section, taken on the same ---line, looking in theopposite direction, as indicated by the arrow 6-5, of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a detail View showing an alternate form of ratchet for thetype wheels.

Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line 8-8,

40' Fig. 4.

Fig. 9 is a similar section showing the cams in the released position.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the type wheels with the operating mechanismshown in section.

Fig. 11 is'a detail view, illustrating the connection betweenthersetting lever and the setting shaft.

The invention iscarried on a supporting base J0 having a pair of typewheel brackets l! and 50 I2 projecting upwardly to support a series oftypewheels l3. A third bracket 14 projects upwardly from the base ill tosupport an arcuate table 15 from whicha series of setting keys i6 pro-55 Ject. The-brackets ll "and ll'at their upper and William Young,-

1937, Serial No. 137,961

extremities are formed into rounded discs which close the two sides ofthe type wheel series I3.

The type wheels are journalled on a hollow shaft I! which extendscompletely through the series, and is itself journalled in the twobrackets l l and I2. The type wheels comprise solid discs carrying attheir periphery, engraved letters or numerals as illustrated. Theinterior portion of each wheel is indented or hollowed to form a chamberH3 in which a toothed ratchet wheel [9 is formed. The ratchet wheel ispreferably cast with, and forms an integral part of the type wheelitself. The type wheels do not completely enclose the hollow shaft IT, aportion being cut away to form a pocket adjacent the shaft.

Between each pair of type wheels I3 is a relatively thin pawl disc 2|.The pawl discs are all similar and each is formed with an ear 22 whichextends into a locking channel 23 which in'turn is fixed to and extendsbetween the bracket members H and I2. These ears 22 prevent the discs2!- from rotating with the hollow shaft ll.-

Each of the discs carries a ratchet pawl 24, mounted upon a suitablehinge pin 25, projecting from the disc. A wire spring 26 constantlyforces the extremity of the ratchet'pawl into the teeth of the ratchetwheel I9 of the adjacent type wheel. The teeth of the ratchet wheelscorrespond in number to the number of type charactens carried by thetype wheels, so that the pawls will stop each type wheel with thesecharacters in alignment with each other.

The type wheels are rotated in succession from the hollow shaft H. Theshaft contains a sliding block2l which. is moved in one direction bymeans of a compressionspring 28'. The block 21 contains a key pin 29which projects from the shaft ll through a longitudinal slot 30 into thepockets 20 of the type wheels. Thus, if the shaft I1 is rotated Whenthekey 29 is in the pocket of the first wheel, this wheel alone willrotate. If the key '29 is then moved to the key pocket 20 of the secondwheel, the second wheel will be rotated and so on; throughout theseries.

The block 21 is moved by means of a sliding pawl 3|, having a hookedextremity which engages in ratchet teeth'32 in the block. This pawl iscarried in a pawl housing 33 which rotates with the shaft H. The pawlhousing also carries a pivoted pawl34 which prevents return movement ofthe block when the sliding pawl 31 releases. Both pawls are urged intoengagement with the ratchet notches 32'by means of tension springs 35;

The 'extremity'of the sliding 'pawl3l bears against the side of thebracket I2, and this bracket side is formed with a bevelled cam 36which, at one position of the shaft l1, will force the sliding pawl tothe right, causing it to draw the key pin 29 into the next successivetype wheel. The pawls are both released from the block 29 when desired,to allow the spring 28 to return the plug to its initial position, bymeans of a resetting lever 31. The latter carries an inclined surface 33positioned to come beneath arms on both pawls to lift them fromengagement with the teeth.

"The resetting lever 31 is moved away from the pawls by means of asuitable spring 39 and is moved against the pawls by means of a typewheel resetting bar 49. The resetting bar 40 projects from rotary disc4! mounted on the hub of a resetting handle 42. The resetting handle 42is journalled on the shaft in the bracket handle it and terminates in asuitable hand hold 43. This bar contacts a high point 44 on each of thetype wheels to push them all back to the starting position against thechannel member 23.

The shaft ll terminates at the third bracket i l in a toothed pinion 45which meshes with a segment gear 46. The segment gear 45 is secured onthe lower extremity of a setting lever 41 which projects upwardlybetween a guide bar 48 and the table I 5. This table supports a series'of key tablets lii similar to typewriter key tablets. The tablets arecarried on bent rods 16' extending downwardly through the table i5,thence curving through guide openings 49 in a segment bar 56. Acompression spring in pushes each key upwardly and a locking pin 52limits the upward movement of each key.

It can be seen that when the key is depressed, it will naturally movedownwardly and to the left due to the fact that its extremity is in theguide opening t9 which prevents the latter extremity from movingdownwardly. This leftward movement projects the extremity of the lockingkey across the guide passage along the bar 38 into the path of the lever4! to stop the movement of the latter at any desired point.

Operation Let us assume that it is desired to set the type wheels sothat they will print the initials M J H and that the wheels are all inthe zero position of Fig. 6. The setting key M is depressed with theleft hand, the setting lever 41 is drawn downwardly with the right handuntil it strikes the stem of the key M which will prevent furtherdownward movement. This movement rotates the hollow shaft ll rearwardly,and causes the key 23 to carry the first type wheel rearwardly until theletter M is opposite the printing point of the wheel.

The setting lever 41 is now swung upwardly to its starting point. Thiscauses the sliding cam 3| to ride upon the inclined surface 36 so thatthe cam moves to the right one tooth space 32 which is sufiicient todraw the key 29 within the second type wheel. The first type wheel isheld in its present position by means of its pawl 24. The plug 29 isheld within the second wheel by means of the pivoted pawl 34.

The key J is now depressed and the lever 41 is brought against its bentrod stem. This causes the key 29 to rotate the second type wheel to theprinting point for the letter J. The lever t! is again raised to the topto cause the sliding cam 2i to move the plug 29 to the right to positionthe key in the third type wheel. The key is now depressed to set theletter H. The type wheels are set up in alignment for printing theinitials M J H.

To reset the wheels for a difierent set of initials, the operatorrotates the resetting handle 42 upwardly and toward him. This causes theresetting bar 40 to travel around the type wheels and strike the highpoints 44 thereof to return them all to their original position. As theresetting bar it reaches the limit of its resetting movement, it strikesthe lever 37 which positions the inclined member 33 beneath the pawls 3!and 34 to allow the block 32 to snap back to its original position.

The actual printing is accomplished by means of a platen cushion 53which is mounted on the extremity of a platen arm 54 journalled to thebase It at 55. The goods to be printed is laid across the platen 53 withthe operators thumbs engaging the back of the platen arm 5d and the armis then pressed against the set up type wheels. The type wheels areinked by means of an inking pad 56 carried at the upper extremity of atoggle lever 51. The hinge point of the toggle lever is connected bymeans of a connecting rod 58 with the platen bracket 54 so that when theplaten is moved forwardly, the inking lever will be moved forwardly topress the pad 56 against the type. Rollers 59 will then strike a rollerguide track 65 to cause the toggle lever 57 to collapse and withdraw theink pad downwardly from the path of the platen 53. The operation of theinking device and platen are described more in detail in applicants saidco-pending application.

In Fig. '7, an alternate method of constructing the stop ratchet isillustrated. In this form, internal ratchet teeth 6| are formed in thecavity l3 and an outwardly acting pawl 62 is forced against these teethby means of a spring 63. The action is exactly similar to the previouslydescribed ratchet.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described andillustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may bevaried, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired securedby Letters Patent is:

1. In a marking machine: a series of disc-like type wheels havingprinting characters around their periphery; a hollow shaft serving as asupport for said wheels; a key projecting from said shaft; means formoving said key along said shaft to successively engage said wheels; adepression formed in the side of each wheel; a ratchet wheel secured toeach type wheel in said depression, the teeth of said ratchet wheelcorresponding in number to the character spaces on said type wheel; aratchet pawl within the depression of each wheel in engagement with saidteeth to stop said wheels at predetermined positions; and means forholding said ratchet pawls stationary said type wheels rotate.

2. In a marking machine: a series of disc-like type wheels havingprinting characters around their periphery; a hollow shaft serving as asupport for said wheels; a key projecting from said shaft; means formoving said key along said shaft to successively engage said wheels; adepression formed in the side of each wheel; a ratchet wheel secured toeach type wheel in said depression, the teeth of said ratchet wheelcorresponding in number to the character spaces on said type wheel; apawl support positioned between each pair of wheels; a ratchet pawlmounted on each of said pawl supports and engaging the ratchet teeth ofthe adjacent type weel; and means for preventing said pawl supports fromrotating with said type wheels.

3. In a marking machine: a series of disc-like type wheels havingprinting characters around their periphery; a hollow shaft serving as asupport for said wheels; a key projecting from said shaft; means formoving said key along said shaft to successively engage said wheels; adepression formed in the side of each Wheel; a ratchet wheel secured toeach type wheel in said depression, the teeth of said ratchet wheelcorresponding in number to the character spaces on said type wheel; apawl support positioned between each pair of wheels; a ratchet pawlmounted on each of said pawl supports and engaging the ratchet teeth ofthe adjacent type wheel; a tongue formed on each pawl support andprojecting beyond the periphery of said type wheels; and means forengaging said tongues to prevent said supports from rotating with saidtype wheels.

4. In a marking machine: a series of disc-like type wheels havingprinting characters around their periphery; a hollow shaft serving as asupport for said wheels; a key projecting from said shaft; means formoving said key along said shaft to successively engage said wheels; adepression formed in the side of each wheel; a rachet wheel secured toeach type wheel in said depression, the teeth of said ratchet wheelcorresponding in number to the character spaces on said type wheel; aratchet pawl within the depression of each wheel in engagement with saidteeth to cause said wheels to rest at predetermined positions; means forholding said ratchet pawls stationary as said type wheels rotate; aresetting bar extending across said series of type wheels; a high pointon each of said wheels; and means for rotating said setting bar aboutsaid wheels into engagement with said high points to reset said wheelsin their initial positions.

5. In a marking machine: a series of disc-like type wheels havingprinting characters around a their periphery; a hollow shaft serving asa support for said wheels; a key projecting from said shaft; adepression formed in the side of each wheel; a ratchet wheel secured toeach type wheel in said depression, the teeth of said ratchet wheelcorresponding in number to the character spaces on said type wheel; aratchet pawl within the depression of each wheel in engagement with saidteeth to position said wheels in accordance with the spacing of theprinting characters thereon; means for holding said ratchet pawlsstationary as said type Wheels rotate; a sliding block in said hollowshaft carrying said key; ratchet teeth formed in said block; a slidingpawl actuated in consequence of the movement of said type wheelsengaging said teeth to successively move said key through said typewheels; and means for lifting said sliding pawl to allow said block toreturn to its initial position.

6. In a marking machine of the type having a series of type wheelscarrying type characters and an actuating lever for rotating said wheelsselectively to the desired characters, means for stopping the movementof said lever at any desired character comprising: an arcuate indexmember positioned along the path of movement of said lever; a series ofstop members carried by said index member, said stop members beingmovable so that they may be positoned in the path of said lever to stopit at any desired point, each of said stop members comprising, a keytablet; a rod extending from said tablet to a position adjacent the pathof said lever so that it may be projected across said path; and a springurging said tablet outwardly to hold said rod normally out of the pathof said lever, said rod being bent so that its extremity will projectlaterally across said path while said tablets are positioned alongsideof said path.

'7. In 'a marking machine of the type having a lever for actuating aseries of type wheels, means for stopping the movement of said lever atany one of a series of desired points corresponding to the number oftype spaces on said wheels comprising: an arcuate index member having aslot for the path of said lever; a series of curved setting keyspositioned along said slot; a key tablet on each of said keys, said keysextending through said index member and then turning to a position alongone side of said slot so that when pressed upon, the turned extremitywill be forced across said slot; and spring means for returning saidkeys when released.

WILLIAM S. PE'I'IY.

